Jarren Duran is signing … again. And again.
The same scene unfolds following most Red Sox home games. As he exits the clubhouse, Duran — accompanied by team security — approaches the fans lining the sidewalk on Van Ness Street behind a string of metal barricades.
Some players will spend a few minutes signing on their way out of the park. Duran signs for every fan who waits for him. He also poses for selfies and often engages fans in conversation. His accessibility to fans on his way out of the park is unprecedented in recent memory.
“I’ve never seen anyone connect with fans the way he does,” said assistant general manager Raquel Ferreira, who’s been with the team since 1999. “It’s incredible.”
“There’s been no other guy that’s had the patience and the time he spends with the fans after the game. I have never seen it,” said James Polino Jr., a Fenway Park security guard since 2009, who works at the entrance to the players’ parking lot. “He’s one of the most outgoing players I’ve ever seen with fans on a nightly basis. There’s been no other guy that has ever done what he’s doing this season.”
Once he starts signing, Duran feels compelled to do so for everyone who is willing to spend the time waiting for him. The result has been regular autograph marathons that start roughly one hour after the end of games (Duran works out postgame as part of his routine, slowing his exit) and stretch for 90 minutes to two hours, with Duran not driving away until 1 a.m. or later.
Why does he do it?
“That’s honestly one of the more special times, is when I get to go do that and hang out with [the fans], and just feel like I have a pretty close connection with them,” said Duran.
Throughout the 2024 season, Duran had a similar commitment — but the scale was different. He’d still stay after games to sign for every fan and to fulfill requests for selfies, but on most nights, that meant 30 to 45 minutes.
This year — perhaps thanks to the Netflix series “The Clubhouse” that captured a number of Duran’s interactions — the numbers have multiplied in startling fashion.
“Now the word’s out. It’s not something that team personnel is advertising or anything like that. [Fans] just all know on their social media, and things like that, that he signs over there,” said Polino. “It’s easily 300, 400, 500 people [every night]. It’s crazy.”
Despite the growing numbers, the interactions go beyond the superficial. Duran’s public discussions of his mental health struggles — and the disclosure in the Netflix documentary of a suicide attempt earlier in his career — have led to emotional exchanges.
“I’ve seen it firsthand,” said Barret Arthur, Duran’s agent. “I’ve seen people bawling, asking for a hug … I’ve seen people that have literally said, ‘You saved my life,’ or, ‘Thank you for talking about [mental health]. You’ve given me courage to talk about it.’ ”
Duran doesn’t sign after every home game, but does so after the vast majority. There have been moments — particularly after a bad game or loss — when Duran will question whether he should once again commit to the time on Van Ness Street.
Yet he’s found something powerful and encouraging about the ritual, both in the interactions and because the time with fans can help wash away on-field disappointment.
“Sometimes I’m like, ‘Dang, I had a bad game. I don’t know if I’m going to go sign, because I don’t want to possibly run into something negative out there.’ But I end up signing and it ends up being really good … There’s some [negativity on occasion], but some of the other fans get on those people for making negative comments. So it’s always funny to see that kind of interaction,” said Duran. “That’s always something I can lean on, is some of those fans cheering me on.”
Those fans have had plenty to celebrate following home games this year. Duran has strong numbers this year (.263/.334/.453 with a 118 OPS+, 12 home runs, and 19 stolen bases), but he’s been a force at Fenway — hitting .294/.363/.523, a key contributor to a team that’s been dominant (39-22) at home.
As the team’s success has built, so have the crowds waiting after games for a chance to interact with players. That’s meant long nights for Duran — and others around him.
“The standing joke is he’s getting us OT,” Polino said. “I have enjoyed that part of it. I will never mind when a guy stays [to sign] after the game.”
Alex Speier can be reached at alex.speier@globe.com. Follow him @alexspeier.